Donald Trump: finally, did he or did he not drink the coffee offered by the Saudis?

During his second term as President of the United States, Donald Trump selected Saudi Arabia for his first official international trip, mirroring his choice at the start of his first term. The kingdom rolled out the red carpet, honoring him with a military parade and a personal greeting from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the airport.

However, videos from the meeting circulated on Saudi social media, showing Trump declining a coffee offer twice, which some interpreted as disrespectful.

Shortly after, Saudi media broadcast new footage that appeared to show Trump finally taking a sip. This stirred further speculation, with many viewers suggesting the clips might be AI-generated.

The initial footage captured Trump’s arrival at Riyadh International Airport, where he and his delegation, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were presented with traditional Arab coffee. Rubio quickly drank his, while Trump held onto his cup during discussions with the Crown Prince before ultimately placing it down.

Another segment filmed during an official event at Al-Yamamah Palace shows Trump receiving a second cup, which he held between his knees without drinking. However, subsequent broadcasts from Saudi outlets suggest he eventually took a taste of the coffee.

Trump has previously claimed that he avoids alcohol, cigarettes, and even coffee—a lifestyle change he adopted following the death of his older brother, Fred, who struggled with alcoholism. In a 2015 interview with Esquire, he shared, “He was ten years older than me and always cautioned me, ‘Don’t drink, don’t smoke.’ I don’t even drink coffee. I stay away from these things because he had such a significant problem.” Yet, he has been seen enjoying espresso at campaign events, including a Cuban restaurant in Miami during his first presidential campaign.

Despite his past declarations, the footage prompted a flurry of online reactions. In Saudi Arabia and across much of the Arab world, the act of offering and drinking coffee is a vital element of hospitality. One user remarked, “Donald Trump takes a cup of coffee but just silently examines it! Trump doesn’t want coffee; he wants money!” Others criticized him for disregarding Saudi customs, while some defended his actions, suggesting they stemmed from a cultural misunderstanding and that he might not fully grasp local traditions.